Peyton Manning, who has been mocked for so long by critics for his lack of playoff success, won his third AFC championship game in four tries against his longtime rival and consummate winner Tom Brady.
It was not easy, and the Broncos had to get a stop on a two-point conversion with 12 seconds left, but the unbelievable story being authored by Manning marches on to Super Bowl 50.
Manning is going to his fourth Super Bowl after the Denver Broncos beat the New England Patriots 20-18 on Sunday. He owes a big thanks to Denver's defense, which got two huge fourth-down stops deep in their own territory in the fourth quarter and then got a stop on a two-point conversion attempt after giving up an amazing fourth-down touchdown to Rob Gronkowski with 12 seconds left. Broncos cornerback Bradley Roby intercepted a pass on the two-point conversion attempt that was tipped by former Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib and the Broncos held on to win.
The Broncos got deep into Patriots territory early in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t cash in with a touchdown. The Broncos got a field goal to take a 20-12 lead. Then the defense took over. The Patriots put together a long drive in the fourth quarter, and got inside the Broncos’ 20-yard line. New England went for it on fourth-and-1, DeMarcus Ware got pressure on Brady who lobbed a pass to Julian Edelman. That gave cornerback Chris Harris time to react, and he made a great tackle on Edelman to stop him short of the first down.
The focus before the Super Bowl will be on the 39-year-old five-time MVP Manning, and whether that will be his final NFL game. Not many people thought another Super Bowl appearance was possible a month ago.
This trip to the Super Bowl for Manning comes at the end of his worst season, after it seemed there was a chance he'd never play another NFL snap. He missed a good portion of the season with a foot injury while Brock Osweiler started and helped Denver win some key games, but Manning relieved Osweiler in Week 17 and the Broncos stuck with him.
It looks like a smart call now, even though the defense deserves almost all the credit. The Broncos' offense started hot, taking its first drive right down the field for a touchdown. Manning had a nice completion on a bootleg pass, which was notable since he hasn’t looked comfortable throwing on the move all season. Manning finished the drive with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Owen Daniels.
Manning hit Daniels again on a 12-yard touchdown in the second quarter after the Patriots cut the lead to 7-6. Manning outplayed Brady in the first half. Manning had two touchdown passes. Brady had two interceptions, and the Patriots’ only touchdown came after a Broncos turnover deep in their own territory.
The Broncos got deep into Patriots territory early in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t cash in with a touchdown. The Broncos got a field goal to take a 20-12 lead. Then the defense took over. The Patriots put together a long drive in the fourth quarter, and got inside the Broncos’ 20-yard line. New England went for it on fourth-and-1, DeMarcus Ware got pressure on Brady who lobbed a pass to Julian Edelman. That gave cornerback Chris Harris time to react, and he made a great tackle on Edelman to stop him short of the first down.
The Patriots got yet another chance when the Broncos couldn't move the ball, and again got inside the Broncos' 20 with less than three minutes left. After Danny Amendola couldn't haul in a third-down pass. On fourth down Brady didn't have many options and heaved up a pass to the end zone to Rob Gronkowski, but it was knocked away as three defenders converged on Gronkowski.
The Broncos defense had to hold yet again in the final two minutes after the Patriots forced a punt. Brady hit Gronkowski for a huge catch on fourth-and-10 down the field for 40 yards. Then he hit Gronkowski for a touchdown with 12 seconds left.
But Talib tipped Brady's pass, Roby picked it off, and the Broncos and Manning are off to an improbable Super Bowl.
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